Contact terminal



Nov. 6, 1928.

A. G. STEINMAYER CONTACT TERMINAL Filed Oct. l2, 1925 VII/4 @ww Alwm E- Etmmayr Patented Nov. 6, 19278.

` g '1,690,845 I UNITED STATE-SPATENT OFFICE..

ALIWIN G. STEINMAYER, CFMILWAUK'EE', lwIsCoNsIN, AssIGNoiaro LINE MATERIAL COMPANY, oF soU'Ink MILWAUKEE,wIsCorisIN, A CCnPon'ATIoN on WISCONSIN.

CONTACT TnniirINnL.

Appiicatiok tied october -ia-iea. semi No. ee,c21.

Thisinventioii has as` an object tlie'provision oi an improved contact terminal niember wherein la better electrical connectionis obtained between theA conductor and the switch terminaland one in which the length of terminal tongue may be varied to suit any condition.

It is another object of this inventionito provide an improved contact terminal which by reason of itsconstriiction may be manufactured atarelatively low cost. f

A further object of thisv invention is to provide an improved clip construction designedto exert its pressure in the contact yarea where -it is needed and only after the blades are well in contact to thus lessen the strain on the insulators and switch parts during the opening and closing` operations. lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination `and arrangement of parts substantially Vas hereinafter described and more particularly delined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment oit the liereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope'of the claims.

In the/accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example I" the physical embodiment of my invention constructed accordingr to the best mode I have so tar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof and in which;

Figure 1 is a side view of a switch equipped with Contact terminals embodying my invention, a part of the movable switch menber being broken away and in section, an

Figure'2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated, the numeral 5 designates a supporting base or panel upon which two insulators 6 and 7 are mounted in spaced relation by fastening bolts or other members 8. The outer ends of the insulators 6 and 7 have rmyimproved contact terminals 9v and 10,. respectively, mounted thereon .by attaching bolts 11. The blades 12 of a movable switch member 13 are pivotally connected with the vertical portion 14 of the terminal 9 in electrical engagement `by a pivot pin and ifrictionwash; ers 15, the blades being disposed on opposite sides of the 4vertical portion and thus main,l

tained 'in proper spaced relation. Vrllhe freey ends of the movable switch member blades are connected and held in spaced relation by an operating eye'meniber 16 and the member isfeiigageable over the vertical part 17 of the terminal between spring clips 18 fixed thereto, asr at19. The yterminal ymembers vand y1'() are preferably out ifromT-sliaped copper railsto the Vdesired width and tlievert-ical portion 14 of the rail from` which the terminal 9is cut is preferably ot' the saine thickness throughout equal to the-distance it is desired vto s ace the blades Y12 andthe vertical portion o theVv rail from which 'the terminal k1() is-cut is porter-ably of increased thickness lat its base portion 20 with itsouter end'portion`17 of a thickness equal *tothat of the vertical portion of the terminal 9 to forni shoulders'Ql adapted to be engaged by thev inner` edge portions ofthe blades 12 when closed.

. The. outer .faces or tlietransverse portion 22 of the rails troni which the terminals are cut are provided with central, longitudinalY slots orrecesses inA which are secured terminal tongues -24 which provide means for electrically connecting the conductor sockets 25. The tongues 24 are cut from strip copper of a thickness and width adapted tolit snugly` within the slots 23 to be held therin against the top of the insulator by the bolts 11. The terminal tongues 24 are of lengths best litted i'or the use to which the terminal members are being socket-s are bolted or otherwise secured put and the conductor v thereto, as at v26. This arrangement places i the terminal tongues in better electrical contact with the terminal members proper and also, as irientioned above, affords terminal tongues of any desired lengths.

As best shown in Figure 2, the clip members 18 are preterably formed of strip ma;-

terial andr have their medial portions curved f outwardly to approximately semi-circular form, one end portion oit the clip member forming means ior attachingthe clipv to the terminal portion 2O andthe other endportion being ilared outwardly to form.Y a ta.- pered guide-way for the switch blade. In this` manner the pieces 18 insure a good spring pressure on the blades which is exerted only after the blades are well in con-V tact, thus lessening strain on the insulators and switch parts during the opening and closing operations.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily obvious to those skilled in i engaging the support, and a terminal tonguev o' the desired length secured in said slot in electrical connection with the Contact member Aand held therein by the means securing the contact member tothe support.

Q. A device ot the character described, comprising a contact member lcut from a length of T-shaped material having the outer tace of its transverse portion provided with a central, longitudinal slot, and a terminal tongue cut from a length of strip material and Aof a thickness and width equal to the depth and width of the slotto provide a good electrical engagement in said slot, said terminal tongue projecting from the contact member to provide means for'electrically connecting a conductor with the contact member.

3; A device of the character described,

comprising a Contact member cut from a length of Tshaped material having the outer face ot its transverse portion provided with a central, longitudinal slot, a terminal tongue cut from a length of strip material and of a thickness and width equal to the depth and 4width of the slot to provide a good electrical engagement Y in said slot said terminal tongue projecting trom the contact member to provide means for connecting a conductor with the contact member, and means on the vertical portion ot the conta-ct member to .provide for the electrical engagement therewith ot a switch member.

4:'. In al device of thecharacter described, a support, a `substantially `T`-shaped contact member having a slot in the under tace of its transverse portion, a terminal tongue snugly fitted 4in the slot to have a good electric'alqcontact with the contact member, and leans passed through the transverse portion ot the 'T-shaped contact membervfor securing the same to the support. y

ln a device of the class described, a Contact member cut from a length of T- shaped material and having a slot formed in the under tace of its transverse portion, a terminal tongue cut to desired length from strip material Vand snugly fitted in the slot and in good electrical engagement with the contact member, and a pair otcomplementary clip members mounted one on eachV side of the vertical portion of the T-shaped member to provide means Jfor engaging a movable switch member with the contact member.v i

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

LWIN Gr.. STEINMAYER. 

